gary says "more stone walling on ben gi sai? we'll never know the truth, will we?" i think we will. it may take time, but we will. that moments ago, president obama saying he still has hope. >> i'm optimistic we may still be able o reach an agreement that can pass both houses in time. senators reid and mcconnell are working on such an agreement as we speak. >> and as we speak, rich edson is live in washington with the very latest. >> well, it's up to the senate. staffers and a majority leader harry reid, minority leader mitch mcconnell are trying to negotiate a scaled-down debt deal to avoid some of the fiscal cliff and take other major decisions on taxes and spending to the future. again, in an afternoon white house meeting president obama pitch a debt plan he had outlined a week ago, prevent a tax increase for income of less than to an effective thousand dollars per year and extend long-term unemployment benefits. senate leaders are using that framework to try to craft a proposal to pass both houses of congress. aides say it would likely increase the threshold for tax increases, r